| Drew O'Neil |
University Park, Pa.; May 14, 2007 - Penn State closer Drew O'Neil (Roswell, Ga.) became the fifth different Penn State pitcher to be named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week this year when the Roswell, Ga. native was given the award today after his two impressive outing helped Penn State defeat first place Michigan in three out of four games this past weekend, the first series the nationally-ranked Wolverines have lost in Big Ten play this year. O'Neil joins teammates Craig Clark (Phoenixville, Pa.), Scott Gaffney (Westbury, N.Y.), Matt Ogrodnik (Saltsburg, Pa.) and Seth Whitehill (Bellefonte, Pa.) as Penn State pitcher that have been named Big Ten Pitchers of the Week this year. This is also the sixth time this year that a Penn State pitcher was won the award, as Clark was won the award twice.
O'Neil threw a total of five innings out of the bullpen this past weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., picking up a win and then a save in his two outings. In the second game of the series and the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, O'Neil entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with the score tied 4-4. Facing the high-powered and Big Ten-leading Michigan offense, O'Neil shut down the Wolverines for three straight innings, allowing just three baserunners and one hit.
He picked up the win as Penn State won in extra innings. Then, in the third game of the series, Sunday's first game of the doubleheader, he came right back and threw two hitless innings, facing the minimum six batters, to pick up his eighth save of the year in Penn State's win. The save set the school record for saves in a season, breaking the old record of seven that was held by Shawn Fagan from 1998.
The sophomore transfer from Young Harris College in Georgia has been almost literally unhittable in Big Ten play and overall. In conference play, he has a 0.00 ERA, a 2-0 record, and six saves. He has thrown 14 innings in nine appearances while only allowing five hits, one walk, and has struck out eight while holding opponents to a .109 average. Overall, he has a 1.44 ERA and a 3-1 record in 18 appearances to go along with his eight saves. He has allowed just 14 hits, five runs, four earned, and seven walks along with 15 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .169 average.